Will Andy Burnham, who built his political career on justice and accountability after Hillsborough, deny the same to victims of state abuse? Citing concerns about costs and delays, the government is seeking to shut down a statutory public inquiry that has exposed decades of secret political policing, just as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill might be about to give it real teeth. Undercover officers were used to mount “destructive operations” to disrupt political groups from within, with targeted harassment of key organisers, and seizure of printed material to prevent a message hitting the streets. The Home Office consultation is set to run during the summer holidays and report in September, before the Bill has passed. If the Home Office succeeds, it will set a dangerous precedent, threatening any future public inquiry that becomes politically embarrassing.